Short answer: the Sony ULT Tower 5 ranks #5 of 53 party speakers by sound quality at $449.99; the Sony SRS-XP700 ranks #19 at $448. Close enough in price that the sound-quality gap is the deciding factor.
The Tower 5 is Sony’s newer, more configurable option. It brings a 300W system, 9-inch woofer, removable 20-hour battery, 10-band app EQ, IPX4 protection and RCA, XLR, USB-C and microphone inputs.
Choose the Tower 5 for modern connection options and tuning: ULT1/ULT2 modes, custom EQ and balanced XLR are practical upgrades for a wired source, DJ setup or karaoke.
Choose the XP700 only for its older design priorities: Compare the full specifications below, especially battery, inputs and transport, rather than assuming an older larger-looking cabinet is the stronger performer.
Buy the Sony ULT Tower 5 if sound quality is the priority over the price, or the Sony SRS-XP700 if the price is the priority over sound quality.
If water resistance matters to you, the Sony ULT Tower 5 at IPX4 (splashing) holds up far better than the Sony SRS-XP700 at no water resistance.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony ULT Tower 5 | Sony SRS-XP700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $449.99 | $448.00 |
| Ranked | #5 of 53 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #19 of 53 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Sony Sound Connect) | Yes |
| Aux Input | RCA input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (manufacturer specified) | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | LDAC, AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | No | - |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Dimensions | 14.1" x 21.1" x 11.1" (358 x 536 x 282 mm) | 12.3" x 27.3" x 14.4" (313 x 693 x 367 mm) |
| Drivers | 3 drivers: 1x 9" woofer, 2x 2.4" tweeter | 2x 170mm woofers + 3x 60mm front tweeters + 1x 50mm rear tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat) | Yes |
| Guitar Input | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Output Power | 300W | 78W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C charging) | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | AC power cord | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| Stereo | Yes | Partially |
| TWS | Yes (Stereo Pair) | No |
| USB Playback | Yes (USB-A and USB-C) | Yes |
| Weight | 28 lbs / 12.7 kg | 37.3 lbs / 16.9 kg |
| Wifi | No | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 50Hz |
| Charging Time | - | 3 hours |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Sony ULT Tower 5:
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs Sony ULT Tower 7
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs JBL Partybox Club 120
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs JBL Partybox 130
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs Sony SRS-XP500
- Sony SRS-XP700 vs Ultimate Ears Hyperboom
Prices on this page were last checked September 12, 2026 at 9:50 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Sony ULT Tower 5: $449.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: At $449.99, its 300W system with a 9-inch woofer delivers a notably capable party-speaker package: a removable 20-hour battery, IPX4 splash resistance, 10-band EQ and ULT1/ULT2 modes. AudioTribe’s first impressions praise its deeper bass and clearer sound than the JBL PartyBox Club 120; it also has USB-C and USB-A, RCA, balanced XLR and mic inputs for DJ and karaoke use.
Cons: It has a shorter 20-hour battery claim than the Tower 7’s 30 hours, no wheels, and only IPX4 splash resistance. Its single-woofer, two-tweeter layout lacks the Tower 7’s 360-degree rear-driver array, and the reviewer describes the sound assessment as first impressions rather than a controlled measurement comparison.
Full Sony ULT Tower 5 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Sony Sound Connect) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | RCA input |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 14.1" x 21.1" x 11.1" (358 x 536 x 282 mm) |
| Drivers | 3 drivers: 1x 9" woofer, 2x 2.4" tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat) |
| Guitar Input | No |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Microphone Input | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 300W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C charging) |
| Power Input | AC power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes (Stereo Pair) |
| USB Playback | Yes (USB-A and USB-C) |
| Weight | 28 lbs / 12.7 kg |
| Wifi | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sony SRS-XP700: $448.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Dual 6.69” woofers, multi-tweeter X-Balanced Speaker Units with rear tweeter for 360 effect. Exceptional 25-hour battery (18-22 hours real-world with LEDs). IPX4 splash-resistant. MEGA BASS for deep punchy sound. Karaoke (mic + guitar inputs), LED lights with stroboscopic effect. Sony Music App integration for microphone control and advanced settings. Measured bass extension of 50Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Weird midrange peak. Slightly less loud than a Partybox 310. Bass not as deep as a Partybox 310/300/110/100.
Full Sony SRS-XP700 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | LDAC, AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 12.3" x 27.3" x 14.4" (313 x 693 x 367 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 170mm woofers + 3x 60mm front tweeters + 1x 50mm rear tweeter |
| EQ | Yes |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 78W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Partially |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 37.3 lbs / 16.9 kg |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sony SRS-XP700 vs Sony SRS-XP500
- Sony SRS-XP700 vs Bose S1 Pro+
- Sony SRS-XP700 vs Zealot PT21
- Sony SRS-XP700 vs Onn Large Party gen 2
- Sony SRS-XP700 vs Soundcore Rave 3S
- Sony SRS-XP700 vs Onn XL Wireless Party Speaker
- Sony SRS-XP700 vs Teufel Rockster Air 2
- Sony SRS-XP700 vs W-King T12
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